Middle of the World

Based on a true story by writer David Francia Mendes, THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD offers a distressing look at the poverty-stricken life of a Brazilian family. Mendes's words have been skillfully fictionalized and sculpted into a cohesive narrative by first-time director Vicente Amorim, who delivers a road movie shorn of all the idyllic romanticism that usually typifies such films. Wagner Moura stars as Romao, an illiterate truck driver who has tired of his meager existence in the northeast of Brazil. Together with his wife Rose (Claudia Abreu), Romao concocts a scheme to bring his entire family to Rio de Janeiro on bicycles. Undaunted by the 2,000-mile stretch of land that lays ahead, the family sets off on its journey, with Romao convinced he'll find a better job in the city. On the way to Rio they experience some life-changing events, from nascent romantic dalliances for the younger family members to an acute role change for Romao and Rose when the latter gets a job. Always looking for something to cling to in order to stave off thoughts of their perilous situation, the family frequently turns to religion and the music of popular Brazilian singer Roberto Carlos for inspiration.

Elegantly handled by Amorim, THE MIDDLE OF THE WORLD is a compassionate tale of strength and hope amid terrifying adversity. But Amorim's film is also a punitive coming of age tale for Romao's kids, who find themselves chastised and rewarded in equal measure as the stress takes its toll on the head of the family. The director leaves viewers with few doubts about the life-threatening vulnerability that many impoverished Brazilian families live with, but also manages to capture the incredible spirit of those who rely on the eternally optimistic thought that something better lies just around the corner.